Ella B. Dechant, 94, Hays, died Friday, November 22, 2019 at Via Christi Village.
She was born November 21, 1925 on the family farm northeast of Ellis, Kansas one of ten children to Joseph and Agatha (Gaschler) Weber. A 1944 graduate of Ellis High School, on April 16, 1945 she was united in marriage to Alphonse R. Dechant at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays. He preceded her in death on February 24, 1984. Ella was a farm wife, a house wife, worked as a school lunch lady at Felten Middle School for twenty years, and in the craft department at Wal-Mart for over ten years.
She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and was a foster grandparent in the Foster Grandparent Program for thirteen years. Her hobbies included cooking, she loved to cook and was stingy with sharing her homemade recipes, playing cards, she was an avid pinochle player, watching soap operas, making quilts for her family and friends, and traveling. She was a joyful cheerleader for all of her grandchildren’s sporting events, was very faithful and kindhearted, she was easy to love and loved easily, and she loved her large, close-knit family. Many in the community lovingly knew her as “Grandma Ella."
Survivors include two sons; Thomas Dechant of Hays and Jeff Dechant and wife Kim of Hays, a sister; Janet Gagnon and husband Wilfred “Chick” of Fairfax, Virginia, six grandchildren; Deanna Rupp and husband Jeff of Hays, Shannon Wylie and husband Will of Lakewood, CO, Tomi Schwandt and husband Jamie of Wichita, Dustin Dechant and partner Laura Dunn of Hays, Jeffrey Dechant of Hays, and Heather Younger and husband Cole of Victoria, twelve great grandchildren; Colten Rupp, Veya Rupp, Allie Rupp, Liam Wylie, Levi Wylie, Ella Schwandt, Jack Schwandt, Cameron Dechant, Damien Dechant, Lexi Younger, Laci Younger, and Levi Younger, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Alphonse, by four brothers; William, Joe, Ralph, and John Weber, and by four sisters; Florence Johnson, Rose Massier, Pauline Wagoner, and Betty Godfrey.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1805 Vine Street, with Fr. Justin Palmer officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on Tuesday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Wednesday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street. A parish vigil service and rosary will be at 6:30 pm on Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Foster Grandparent Program. Condolences and memories of Ella may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com